ABOUT DR. JOSIE BEUG

Dr. Josie Beug's life-long passion has been animals - how they live, think and perceive the world around them, their health and wellness, and the high impact roles they have taken on in our modern society as child-surrogates, emotional-support therapists, best friends and confidants,

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology, with an emphasis in neurobiology and animal behavior in 1989 from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She focused her study on animal behavior and animal consciousness with the preeminent thought leader Mark Bekoff, Ph.D., professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Upon graduation, she worked for 8 years in the nonprofit animal sheltering field gaining invaluable experience with dogs and cats. Thousands of animals have literally passed through her hands as she examined and cared for them.

While working as a veterinary assistant in 1991, she discovered the first edition of Dr Richard Pitcairn's book, "The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats" and the world of alternative/holistic care for animals opened up for her. She found her calling. 

Early childhood circumstances influenced her decision. She experienced alternative medicine, as it was called back in the 70s and 80s, after she and her parents were injured in an automobile accident. Her mother took her to see the naturopath who cured her of allergies to support the healing of a dislocated hip incurred from the accident. She was introduced to colonics, iridology, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture and nutrition at an early age. 

Other early influences include an older sister who was an apprentice to a traditional Lakota/Mandan medicine man. Summer vacations became filled with sweat lodges and ceremonies, visits to the Rez and the blessings of Sundance. Her favorite activities were hiking or horseback riding through the Colorado Rockies. She developed a great respect for nature and the creatures, both plant and animal, that are her children. 

She entered veterinary school in 1994 with the full intention of practicing integrative veterinary medicine. To make this happen, she designed her own alternative track in addition to the conventional curriculum. She was president of the student chapter of  AHVMA for 3 consecutive years, worked as a technician in the clinical pathology laboratory, and organized a regional Holistic Veterinary Medical conference 3 years in a row. She did all of her externships with founding members of AHVMA. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 1998.

Upon graduation she was invited by the veterinary school to be interim instructor for the Community Practice rotation before heading out to New Mexico to work as a shelter veterinarian in a small town sandwiched between two reservations.  

She became certified in veterinary acupuncture by Chi University in 2001 and promptly started her private holistic house-call practice in South Florida. She continues to learn, study and teach western herbology, Chinese herbology, flower essences, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage, light therapy, Reiki, and energy medicine. 

You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and she is now available for private consultations. She has a private on-line community for anyone who wants to dive deeper into TCVM and the healing traditions for themselves and their animals at Gateway to Gaia. 

She teaches acupuncture at Chi University and teaches an in-depth course in TCVM for pet parents and professionals. She grows and makes her own herbal medicine and flower essences and loves teaching others how to do the same. She is a member of the AVMA, WATCVM and AHVMA.                             

1989: B.A. Biology, emphasis in neurobiology and cognitive ethology, University of Colorado at Boulder. Phi Beta Kappa

1989-1992: employed in animal sheltering field, Boulder County Humane society, Oregon Humane Society as kennel technician, adoption counselor. 

1998: DVM University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine

  • President student chapter of AHVMA for 3 years
  • Organized annual holistic veterinary conference for 3 years
  • Externships: founding members of AHVMA, Navajo Reservation Veterinary program.
  • Technician in Clinical Pathology and Microbiology laboratory, 3 years.

1998: Interim instructor for Community Medicine rotation U.W. School of Veterinary Medicine

1999: Staff veterinarian Espanola N.M. Animal Shelter

2001:  Certification in veterinary acupuncture, Chi University.

  • Certification classes in Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-na, Food therapy

2001: Founded Dr Josie's 5 Element Animal Wellness as an integrative house-call practice in south Florida and it is still receiving referral patients. 

2010 - present: Acupuncture instructor at Chi University

2021: Founded Gateway to Gaia, a private on-line community to explore our relationship with the animals and the Earth, includes classes in herbalism, mushrooms, seasonal health, and TCVM. All are welcome!